Energy Access Dividend

The decentralized renewable energy (DRE) sector is entering a new phase, one that goes “beyond access” and instead focuses on co-benefits, dividends, outcomes, improved livelihoods, productive uses -- whatever term you prefer -- that both satisfy consumer aspirations, but also power rural economies.

Fact Sheet Booklet: Powering the SDGs Generated by PEAK, a new booklet brings together the clearest data points on the Energy Access Dividend, looking at the direct relationship between decentralized energy access and some of the most critical SDGs.

Seeking the fastest path to universal energy access, Power for All has identified three specific courses of action that Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) can pursue in support of decentralized renewables in order to accelerate clean energy access.

Powering the Dividend

The Energy Access Dividend is a framework that quantifies the electrification benefits forgone over a country’s business-as-usual electrification transition. Through this framework, we can illustrate the development benefits or ‘dividend’ of faster energy access.

The Energy Access Dividend framework showcases how households can benefit from faster energy access by identifying and calculating numerous benefits including reduced emissions, savings in energy expenditure and time allocation. By quantifying the dividend, the framework provides decision makers with critical information for adopting electrification options which bring about benefits to the energy poor the fastest.

Distributed solar is about more than just bringing electricity to rural villages. It’s about delivering the services that electricity enable, including clean water. Grassroots and Rural Innovative Development (GRID) and a growing number of private companies are pioneering a new approach in India using renewable energy mini-grids to power reverse osmosis (RO) water purification plants.